Prague: the penguins at Kampa Park which share a serious message about the environment.
2 min read
We are in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic and one of the most beautiful city in the world, a place which has long attracted artists and wandering spirits. The city has a magnetic appeal for visionaries, scientists and astronomers, and displays every branch of architecture and art across the last thousand years.
The streets of Prague are just full of statues and sculptors. Some are more conventional, depicting well known figures from Czech history, some stand as a memorial to events in the nation’s past, some are abstract, humorous or bizarre, but all of them have a story.
Also the series of funny yellow penguins, which share a serious message about the environment.
Standing in one single file line, 34 penguins flank a metal beam along the river Vltava, near Kampa Park in Prague.
Despite their cute form, the yellow color, and their tiny broad bellies, the penguins are there as a warning against the dangers of climate change and plastic consumption.
Penguins were created by the Cracking Art Group, a Milan-based art movement of 6 international artists who have made it their mission to send a message about the dangers of climate change and the need for society to take positive action to protect our environment.
The yellow penguins are all made from recycled bottles.
“The penguin is a social animal and has a strong ecological meaning: its survival is affected by global warming and ice melting,” says the group’s website. “Despite being loved by many, this animal is constantly endangered by human technological progress that brings wellness to man but damage to the planet.”
The group’s choice to use plastic is not only for its aesthetic appeal and malleability, but also to throw the message how the world is becoming increasingly artificial. By repurposing plastic, the group hopes to inspire new dialogues surrounding plastic waste and its impact on the environment.
There are other curious sculptures just outside the nearby Museum Kampa (which houses modern European art), including David Černý’s arresting Babies sculptures. The strange installation features three giant crawling babies san faces. A walk through Kampa Park also offers views of Charles Bridge and the park is particularly popular during the summertime.
